Justin Shenkel

Once electrical gear and/or lighting projects are awarded to us by our contractors, I oversee every aspect of managing those projects all the way through the end of the job. I track material, handle accounts payable - ensuring our customers are billed appropriately, I key purchase orders for job revisions, process returns, and put together operating & maintenance data upon job completion. I also assist in the submittal and quoting process, so I've got a moderate level of experience in those areas as well. At the height of my workload, I successfully managed 77 projects at once. So my ability to multi-task, my strong attention to detail, and the ease of which I can build and maintain strong vendor relationships have all invaluably contributed to my success in this position.

I was responsible for the direct supervision of prisoners, including conducting cell searches, pat downs, escorting inmates from point A to point B (on and off prison grounds), operating control cages, recording in log books, etc. It was often a stressful work environment in which my poise and ability to stay cool under hectic working conditions served me well.

I was in charge of managing a crew of 7 in a wholesale electrical distribution warehouse. My primary duties were broken into two areas of focus: overseeing the daily efficiency of the branch, and growing our customer base. I would often key up customer material requests, put together lighting package quotes, ship and receive freight, make sales calls to various jobsites and offices, project management (including reading and deciphering construction plans and blueprints), and many other administrative tasks such as filling out time cards and reviewing accounts payable and expense batches, etc. In the project management phase of my job, I would initiate purchase orders, track and coordinate shipments, and communicate each step of the process with my customers. I performed this quite well. I was also the main point of contact for many outside vendors, so I'm very good at dealing with people of all types, from many different backgrounds. I performed my duties to an above average standard, and because of my leadership, I helped make this location a better, more successful one.

After being hired as a warehouse associate, I was promoted to assistant branch manager after only a year and a half with the company. I helped in managing a crew of 8 employees, including managing inventory, replenishing stock, cycle counting, organizing daily deliveries, keying sales orders for customers at the sales counter and over the phone, reaching out to vendors for pricing and availability on special order items, providing and processing quotes to customers, receiving freight, staging material, pulling orders for will call and delivery, forklift operation, and general building maintenance. I successfully maintained a 92% fill rate for the branch. I also became skilled in project management, to which my customers were always happy with my speed and accuracy in filling their orders.

While working as an arborist, I worked as a member of a "ground crew" as well as an estimator. As a member of the ground crew, I was responsible for rigging up roping devices to lower heavy limbs from trees, chipping and cleaning up downed limbs, as well as using chainsaws to cut big diameter wood. I also became skilled in felling trees. And as an estimator, I provided potential customers with bids on tree pruning and removal, as well as stump grinding.

I drove as a non-CDL driver for a beer, wine and spirits distributor. I worked 40-50 hours per week, travelling many different routes all around the greater Seattle area. I serviced bars, restaurants and convenience stores. I quickly learned the "ins and outs" of delivery driving in a big city, and I became excellent at managing my routes. I was able to navigate horrible traffic and parking conditions in a big truck, and eventually mastered the art of working in those conditions. I was able to build a solid rapport with my customers, and I performed my job above and beyond expectations.

I served aboard the USS Carl Vinson during the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington, and was among the first responders during the subsequent "Operation Enduring Freedom" mission. The same can be said for the March 2003 attacks on Iraq during "Operation Iraqi Freedom." I assisted in the safe and expeditious assembly, receipt and transfer of over 1500 tons of explosive devices, including bombs, missiles, torpedoes and small arms munitions. I methodically led a crew of 8 in preparing for the Navy's COSAR inspection, to which the results were stellar. I was qualified to shoot several different small arms weapons, as well as certified in firefighting and emergency response. While in the military, I learned to work efficiently under some of the most pressure packed situations conceivable. I attribute the strong work ethic and reliability that I have today directly to my time in the Navy. I fulfilled the terms of my 4 year contract in January of 2005, and received an honorable discharge.